Sixers put up fight but fall to Nets

NEW YORK - There were a lot of things happening with the 76ers on Monday.

Evan Turner was the subject of more trade rumors. Michael Carter-Williams rejoined the team after spending Sunday in the Boston area for personal reasons. And the Sixers (15-34) were handed their third consecutive loss and 13th setback in 16 games.

This time, the Brooklyn Nets prevailed, 108-102, in front of 16,727 at the Barclays Center.

The Nets (21-25) snapped a three-game losing streak on a night when they played without all-star guard Joe Johnson (right knee tendinitis) and forward Andrei Kirilenko (sore right calf).

Give the Sixers credit. They played hard throughout, even though they trailed by 19 points in the third quarter. That forced the Nets to put their starters back into the game midway through the fourth.

The Sixers cut the lead to two points twice in the final quarter. The second time came when James Anderson's three-pointer made it 104-102 with 22.7 seconds remaining.

But Paul Pierce made a pair of foul shots with 12.1 seconds left to give Brooklyn a four-point cushion. Carter-Williams turned the ball over on the ensuing possession. Then Shaun Livingston made two foul shots with 3.2 seconds left to ice the game.

"We got down twice big," said Sixers coach Brett Brown, whose team also trailed by 15 points in the first quarter. "To their credit, they found a way to stay together and be in a position to maybe steal a win."

Pierce led all scorers with 25 points while making 14 of 14 foul shots. Carter-Williams paced the Sixers with 21 points on 6-for-17 shooting. But he also committed six of the Sixers' 26 turnovers.

"It continues to haunt us," Brown said of the turnovers. "We have to get more responsible with the ball. I have to do a better job."

So do Turner and Spencer Hawes in regard to getting more involved in the offense.

Hawes had eight points on 3-for-7 shooting, while Turner finished with nine on 3-for-8 shooting.

Most folks are aware that the Sixers have been considering trading Turner, Hawes, and Thaddeus Young for some time. But on Monday, the Sporting News reported that the team has been actively shopping Turner. The Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder are in the mix, according to the report.

Also Monday, the Charlotte Observer reported that the Charlotte Bobcats have interest.

All of it appeared to be news to Turner, who said he doesn't read newspapers.

"Whatever occurs is going to occur," he said. "I just focus on the next day. That's the honest-to-God truth.

"If I had read the paper, I'd be packed for different weather. I would've been here, been there, would've put my winter clothes away."

Carter-Williams joined the team in New York after flying from Boston on Monday.

"That's why it's a personal reason," the Hamilton, Mass., native said when asked about his trip home. "That's something I don't want to discuss. It was a personal reason."

A source said the rookie point guard was dealing with a family issue.

Carter-Williams was the team's leading scorer after missing Saturday's setback at Detroit with a sore right shoulder. The Sixers sat him against the Pistons for precautionary reasons.

@PompeyOnSixers